Dallas Stadium is one of 16 venues for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Jeffrey McWhorter/EPA
When football commentators analyse a World Cup match, they tend to focus on tactics, technical ability, physical conditioning and psychology. If a team wins away from home, we hear about mentality. If a player scores a spectacular goal, we praise their vision or instinct. Yet there is another factor that receives remarkably little attention: the stadium itself.
The 2026 Fifa World Cup, hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, presents perhaps the greatest architectural experiment in the tournament’s history. Sixteen stadiums, spread across the three countries, are staging matches in environments that differ dramatically in size, scale, form, lighting conditions and spatial character.
Some are purpose-built football grounds. Others are enormous NFL arenas adapted for the world’s game. Several feature retractable roofs. Others remain open to the elements. Together, they create a fascinating question: can the architecture of a stadium influence player performance?
As an interior designer, I have spent several years researching the relationship between footballers, spatial awareness and stadium design. My research began with a simple observation: across football, teams consistently perform better at home than away.
Traditional explanations focus on crowd support, yet during the COVID pandemic, when matches were played behind closed doors, home advantage did not disappear. This suggests there may be more complex factors at work.
Playing the space
A player receiving a pass rarely begins processing information at the moment the ball arrives. Long before that pass is played, they have already built a mental picture of their surroundings. They understand where they are positioned in relation to the touchline, the penalty area, teammates and opponents. But they also orient themselves through a series of architectural cues embedded within the stadium itself.
These cues can be obvious or subtle. The angle of a stand. The location of a tunnel. The shape of a roof. The position of advertising. The colour surrounding the pitch. The direction of sunlight. The edge of a seating tier. Together, these become reference points that help players orient themselves and make decisions faster.
John Beck, Cambridge City manager in the early 1990s, would set up key markers in each of the four corners of the team’s home ground. The markers would be hoardings printed with the word “quality”. When full backs would receive a ball deep in their own half they would look up and were asked to hit the ball as hard as they could towards the quality signs. These were nicknamed “quality passes”. While quite a primitive tactic, it was effective for Beck; he guided the club to two successive promotions and to two successive quarter-final appearances in the FA Cup.
Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia is one of the 16 venues for the 2026 World Cup. Kurtis Toliver/Shutterstock
At the 2026 World Cup, players have encountered some of the most distinctive football environments ever assembled for a single tournament. In Dallas, matches are taking place inside a stadium capable of holding more than 90,000 spectators. For many players, this will be the largest enclosed sporting environment they have ever experienced.
Suspended above the field are giant video screens so large they have become part of the stadium’s identity. Whether consciously or unconsciously, such dominant visual elements contribute to the player’s reading of space.
In Atlanta, a retractable roof and climate-controlled interior create conditions unlike those found in most traditional football grounds. The stadium’s vast pinwheel-esque roof structure and glass end wall produce a highly controlled environment where wind, temperature and external distractions are largely removed.
Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca provides a very different experience. It is one of football’s great cathedrals, steeped in memory and history. Generations of players have competed there, from Pelé in 1970 to Maradona in 1986. Unlike many newer venues, the Azteca was designed specifically for football, creating a spatial relationship between players and spectators that feels fundamentally different from many multipurpose grounds.
Meanwhile, venues such as Vancouver’s BC Place, with its retractable cable-supported roof, or Seattle’s Lumen Field, with its dramatic open end framing the city skyline, create visual identities that players must quickly learn to navigate and interpret.
Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is one of football’s great cathedrals. Macbeth_GP/Shutterstock
From a football perspective, the challenge is adaptation. The German footballer Thomas Müller once described himself as an “interpreter of space”, a phrase that captures something important about elite performance. Great footballers appear to slow down time. They often know what they are going to do before the ball reaches them. This ability is developed through experience and familiarity.
The more often players operate within a particular environment, the more effectively they build what psychologists call cognitive maps. Over time, the surroundings become familiar and require less conscious processing. This familiarity creates fractions of a second of additional thinking time. At the elite level, those fractions can make the difference between scoring and missing, winning and losing.
The challenge of a World Cup is that players rarely have this luxury. Teams move rapidly between venues. Conditions change from match to match. Architectural cues that were familiar in one stadium disappear in the next. Players must repeatedly rebuild their understanding of space and place. This is why preparation becomes so important.
For decades, coaches have analysed opposition tactics in meticulous detail. Yet comparatively little attention has been paid to preparing players for the architectural characteristics of the stadium itself. Understanding sightlines, lighting conditions, pitch orientation, roof structures and spatial landmarks could offer marginal gains that become decisive in elite competition.
From a design perspective, this raises an equally interesting question. Modern stadiums are increasingly designed around fan experience, hospitality and commercial revenue. Yet the primary performers within these spaces remain the players themselves. If architecture can influence orientation, perception and decision-making, should stadium design place greater emphasis on players? Perhaps this will be the next frontier in sporting performance.
Representatives from governments, regional organizations, United Nations agencies, technical institutions and city authorities gathered in Algiers for a three-day regional workshop on urban resilience, smart cities and risk-informed development, reaffirming their commitment to building safer, more resilient and sustainable cities across the Arab States.
Organized alongside the inaugural meeting of the Arab Urban Resilience Committee, the workshop provided a regional platform to exchange knowledge, strengthen institutional coordination, and identify practical approaches for integrating disaster risk reduction into urban planning, governance and investment.
The event was organized by the League of Arab States (LAS), the Arab Centre for the Prevention of Earthquake and Other Natural Disasters (ACPEND), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN-Habitat, and regional partners, reflecting a shared commitment to advancing risk-informed urban development in support of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Advancing risk-informed urban resilience
The workshop focused on translating global commitments into practical action at the national and local levels, emphasizing the need to strengthen governance, improve risk-informed planning, and promote investments that enhance urban resilience.
Participants explored regional priorities for addressing urban risks, integrating disaster risk reduction into urban development policies, strengthening institutional coordination, and reinforcing collaboration between national and local authorities to better anticipate, manage and reduce current and emerging risks.
Discussions also highlighted the growing importance of resilient cities in addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, rapid urbanization, infrastructure development and disaster risk, while ensuring that resilience is embedded within sustainable development planning.
From commitment to implementation through MCR2030
UNDRR facilitated a dedicated session on the Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030) initiative, showcasing progress across the Arab region and demonstrating how cities are translating global commitments into concrete local action.
The session highlighted practical tools and approaches for strengthening urban resilience, including the MCR2030 roadmap, the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities, resilience action planning, disaster risk financing, disaster loss and damage data systems, and the Early Warnings for All initiative.
Participants also exchanged experiences from cities including Salalah and Alexandria, illustrating how local leadership, peer learning and partnerships are helping cities move from resilience planning to implementation. The discussion underscored the value of city-to-city cooperation and regional knowledge exchange in accelerating resilience action across the Arab region.
Building greener, smarter and more resilient cities
Participants explored how nature-based solutions, smart city approaches and digital innovation can strengthen resilience while supporting sustainable urban development.
Sessions examined the growing impacts of climate-related hazards, including extreme heat, flooding, drought and environmental degradation and highlighted the importance of resilient infrastructure, integrated urban planning, sustainable finance and community engagement in reducing disaster risk.
The workshop reaffirmed that resilient cities require coordinated action across all levels of government, supported by strong partnerships with academia, the private sector, civil society and local communities.
Strengthening regional cooperation
A key outcome of the meeting was the establishment of the leadership of the Arab Urban Resilience Committee, marking an important step towards strengthening regional cooperation on urban resilience.
Recognizing the leadership demonstrated by the City of Salalah through its engagement in the MCR2030 initiative and its contribution to advancing urban resilience across the region, the Sultanate of Oman was selected to chair the Arab Urban Resilience Committee, with Algeria and the State of Palestine serving as Vice-Chairs. The Committee will provide a regional platform to promote collaboration, facilitate knowledge exchange, and support the implementation of risk-informed urban resilience policies and practices across the Arab States.
The workshop concluded with renewed commitment from participating countries and partners to strengthen regional cooperation, enhance technical exchange, and accelerate the implementation of risk-informed urban development.
By connecting global frameworks with national policies and local action, participants reaffirmed that resilient cities are fundamental to protecting development gains, reducing disaster risk, and advancing sustainable development throughout the Arab States.
Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening international cooperation and accelerating the global adoption of district cooling systems.
The agreement was signed by Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower and a member of the International District Energy Association Board of Directors, alongside representatives from several countries and international organisations.
The signing took place during the 117th International District Energy Association Conference and Exhibition 2026 in Ottawa, Canada.
The MoU positions district cooling as a practical solution for improving energy efficiency, strengthening energy security, supporting local economies and reducing carbon emissions.
It also seeks to expand the use of district cooling through greater knowledge exchange, innovation and the development of policies and regulatory frameworks that support deployment in cities worldwide.
The signatories committed to supporting the transition towards more sustainable and resilient energy systems and strengthening collaboration across the district energy sector.
The agreement aligns with the objectives of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and the climate and sustainability goals of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Empower said the MoU reinforces its role in international initiatives supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy through strategic partnerships and knowledge exchange.
It also strengthens the company’s position as a global district cooling provider and contributor to the development of sustainable urban energy systems.
Bin Shafar said the agreement reflected increasing international recognition of district cooling as an effective climate and energy solution.
“This agreement reflects a growing international commitment to strengthening cooperation and knowledge exchange to accelerate the development and wider adoption of district cooling systems as a practical and effective solution for advancing sustainability, improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions,” he said.
“At Empower, we are proud to represent the UAE in this important initiative, which reflects the country’s leading position in supporting climate solutions and advancing the transition to a low-carbon economy.”
Bin Shafar added that district cooling and district energy would play an important role in creating more efficient, resilient and future-ready cities.
He said stronger international cooperation could help accelerate the development of sustainable urban energy systems while supporting economic growth and improving communities’ resilience to climate change.
Empower participated in the IDEA Conference and Exhibition 2026 as a Diamond Sponsor.
The event was held under the theme “Connecting Networks” from 23 to 26 June.
Empower’s participation included keynote sessions involving Bin Shafar and meetings with senior officials and industry experts.
The discussions focused on opportunities to strengthen international cooperation and share best practices across the district cooling industry.
Simone Liedtke
Based in Dubai since 2025, Simone is a seasoned features writer with nearly a decade of experience in technical writing. Previously penning stories for an engineering and a mining magazine in South Africa,… More by Simone Liedtke
With social isolation a growing issue worldwide, Saudi Arabia is factoring in human connection into urban planning.
The integrated community model prioritizes accessible public spaces, walkable neighbourhoods and community hubs.
Driven by the Vision 2030 agenda, national policy supports the aim of making Saudi cities livable and attractive human ecosystems.
By nearly all measures, quality of life has improved in Saudi Arabia. Access to housing has expanded, infrastructure has scaled, and cities have become more efficient in how they function with enhanced connectivity. Homeownership has reached 66.24%, life expectancy has climbed to 79.7, and both children and adults are engaging in daily physical activity at rates much higher than the current targets.
It is a clear indication of how once-aspirational nationwide goals are becoming reality, driven by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 agenda. The human-centric and integrated approach in Saudi Arabia acknowledges that quality of life is not defined by material ownership alone.
But this aspiration runs in parallel with other, less positive global trends. OECD studies show that people are spending less time meeting friends and family in person, with younger generations seeing some of the sharpest declines in social connection. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization estimates that one in six people globally is affected by loneliness.
Taken together, this suggests something more structural. Across the world, societies may have improved how people live by our current definition of quality of life. But have we inadvertently neglected the effects that the built environment may have on how life is really experienced?
Human-centric master planning
For a long time, quality of life has been closely tied to the extent of individual accumulation and material expansion. The built environment has reflected that logic. Development models have prioritized scale, efficiency and, in many cases, consumer aspirations expressed through private space and exclusivity.
While these approaches have delivered real benefits, they have often also reduced the density of everyday interaction that underpins a sense of belonging. We may have overlooked the importance of shared patterns of life, spaces and experiences that shape human connection, and ultimately shape how people feel about where they live.
There is great value in human-centric master planning, which connects people and places more holistically. A growing body of research shows that the social fabric of a neighborhood has a direct impact on the inhabitants: one six-year longitudinal study found that access to local amenities and cohesive neighborhoods led to higher levels of social support, and better well-being over time.
In the SEDRA community in Riyadh, studies have revealed that residents spend more than 75% of their time away from home participating in lifestyle and retail activities. When these activities are offered within proximity to home, there are significant benefits for reducing traffic, building connectivity, and enhancing quality of life.
Other studies reinforce the importance of belonging itself. This is a complex concept: Research involving more than 5,500 adults found that feeling part of a community was a stronger predictor of life satisfaction than actual participation in programmed, collective activities. But that doesn’t mean such opportunities for connection aren’t important when planning the future of built environments. Quality of life is shaped as much by relationships, connections and shared patterns of experience as it is by individual circumstance.
This has important implications. Cities have long been designed, or have grown, around physical infrastructure such as transport systems, utilities and housing supply. These remain fundamental. But until recently there has been far less consistent emphasis on the social infrastructure that enables people to connect: This includes accessible public spaces, walkable neighbourhoods, community hubs and environments that curate patterns of daily life that bring people into contact with one another. ROSHN Group’s integrated community model emphasizes this social infrastructure within all masterplans, ensuring that homes are not just isolated dwellings, but anchors within a vibrant, connected human ecosystem.
Where these elements are present, the benefits compound over time. Where they are absent, even convenient, objectively well-designed, aesthetically attractive environments can feel disconnected.
Designing for belonging is not a question of adding amenities. It is about how places are structured from the outset. Proximity matters, but so does the quality of shared space, the ease of movement and the extent to which our routines naturally intersect. Small, repeated interactions on streets, in parks, around schools and local shopping centers are what build familiarity and trust. Over time, these interactions become the foundation of community and social support that we rely on emotionally, if not practically in a strictly tangible sense.
Policies for public space
The built environment clearly has a part to play, and so urban policy is also evolving in step. UN-Habitat continues to emphasize the role of public space as essential infrastructure for inclusion, health and resilience, noting that many cities still fall short in allocating sufficient space for shared public life.
In Saudi Arabia, the conversation is moving in a similar direction. Alongside substantial progress in housing provision to meet growing demand, national strategic priorities in urban development are explicitly linked to livability goals and overall quality of life. The Kingdom’s ambition is not simply to accelerate the growth of urban areas, but to ensure its cities feature among the world’s most livable and attractive for visitors and investors
This shift is beginning to influence how large-scale residential developments are conceived. Housing is meticulously planned and interwoven with schools, retail, mosques, green space, health and recreation facilities, establishing integrated communities that foster greater social connection and more healthy, active lifestyles with less reliance on driving. By minimizing friction between different aspects and needs of life and enhancing connectivity, we can create more opportunities for meaningful interaction and shared experiences.
In Saudi Arabia, projects such as SEDRA community reflect this approach, combining high-quality residential neighborhoods with public spaces, amenities and managed community infrastructure in a way that encourages connection over time. As thousands of families have moved into SEDRA, the masterplans have evolved with the usage patterns of its residents, ensuring that upcoming phases respond to the need for greater connectivity and sustainability.
Perspective will drive policy. If quality of life is defined primarily by isolated assets, then the environments we create will continue to reflect that priority. Instead, if we consider connection, participation, belonging and the subsequent benefits for long-term health and environmental sustainability, development will reflect a deeper commitment to quality of life. That includes not just comfort and convenience and a personal sense of attainment, but the ability to form relationships, to participate in community life, and to feel part of something larger than the boundaries and structure of the building we call home.
Ultimately, we must ask this question to decide what shapes quality of life. Does a place make us feel alive and like we belong, or does it simply provide access to something that stops at the front door?
Cities have stood as symbols of opportunity. They drew people seeking jobs, education, healthcare, and a chance at a better life. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) noted that urban areas generate roughly 80% of global gross domestic product, making them major contributors to economic growth and employment.
The UNDP also reported that nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in cities and towns by 2050. Much of that growth is expected to take place in Asia and Africa. Without effective planning, experts argued that urban expansion can lead to congestion, environmental degradation, inequality, and limited access to basic services.
These realities have prompted policymakers to view smart community development as a strategy for addressing long-standing urban issues through better planning and stronger governance.
The phrase “smart city” might bring to mind images of digital control centers, intelligent traffic systems, connected devices, and automated public services. Yet, the true measure of a smart city is not the sophistication of its technology but the quality of life it delivers to residents.
According to UNDP, urban innovation should begin with people rather than technology. A smart city should serve as an instrument to help communities address real-world challenges and create more livable, resilient, and equitable communities.
Smart communities, on the other hand, should be seen as an ecosystem. The World Bank describes smart cities as “interconnected,” which brings people, businesses, government institutions, policies, technologies, and public services to create better development outcomes. As a result, successful smart communities require coordination across multiple sectors.
Digital technologies remain an important component of smart community development, particularly when used to improve decision-making and public service delivery. Urban planners continue to rely on remote sensing, geographic information systems, cloud computing, and data analytics to understand population trends and infrastructure needs. The UNDP reported that these tools can help both the national and local governments allocate resources more efficiently and identify areas requiring immediate attention.
The use of the Internet of Things also allows cities to gather real-time information on transportation systems and utilities. Data generated through these systems can further support traffic management, optimize energy distribution, improve waste collection schedules, and strengthen emergency response efforts.
Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, remains relevant as a tool for urban management, as data analysis can help identify patterns and improve operational efficiency across sectors.
However, experts caution against viewing advanced technologies as universal solutions. In fact, low-cost innovations, open-source platforms, makerspaces, and community-driven solutions produce meaningful results. In some cases, nature-based approaches may offer more effective responses than digital interventions.
Building integrated ecosystems
The Smart City Hexagon Tool, developed by the DAP, measures the progress of LGUs towards becoming a Smart and Sustainable Community. — Photo from dap-csf.oneradical.com
Government initiatives led by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have introduced frameworks, programs, and partnerships to support local governments in adopting innovation-driven approaches to urban development.
The country’s Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities Program has also attracted participation from local government units (LGUs). In fact, more than 90 LGUs have enrolled in the program, surpassing the government’s initial targets.
A separate survey conducted by the DILG and the World Bank found that 70% of surveyed urban local government units reported plans for smart city development, while 61% indicated that they already have existing or planned smart city projects.
Meanwhile, the Development Academy of the Philippines Center for Strategic Futures (DAP-CSF) links smart community development to goals of economic competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. Its Smart City Assessment and Roadmap Development initiative encourages local governments to evaluate current conditions, identify opportunities, and establish long-term priorities.
DAP-CSF also has its Smart City Hexagon Tool, which, measures progress across six dimensions: smart economy, smart environment, smart governance, smart living, smart mobility, and smart people.
Across the Philippines, several LGUs have already demonstrated that smart community principles can translate into practical and efficient improvements for their residents.
In Santiago City, Isabela, local officials have used geographic information systems and data management tools to support planning and decision-making. The city has also established the Research and Innovation for Sustainable Empowerment Center, which seeks to connect research and innovation with practical solutions in agriculture, public health, education, climate action, and disaster resilience.
In Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon, the local government has focused on disaster preparedness because of the municipality’s exposure to tsunami risks. Community-based initiatives supported nutritional programs that improved health outcomes among undernourished children through locally developed food technologies.
On the other hand, Cauayan City, Isabela, recognized as the country’s first smart city, has introduced digital solutions, including public Wi-Fi access, citizen identification systems, mobile applications, and programs supporting farmers.
Despite progress, the Philippines faces limited funding, gaps in digital infrastructure, data privacy concerns, and a need for stronger citizen participation, all of which continue to affect implementation efforts. The World Bank noted the need for stronger coordination among national programs and better integration of smart city initiatives into broader development plans to address these challenges.
Community participation as a defining factor
One of the strongest principles across smart communities is the importance of citizen engagement. In fact, the country’s Smart and Creative Communities framework promotes community participation in identifying challenges and generating solutions.
The DAP-CSF reported that community involvement improves the relevance of projects and increases public trust in technology-driven initiatives. Residents also possess local knowledge that can help identify needs and improve implementation outcomes.
Such engagement, the group said, encourages local governments to involve stakeholders in planning processes and to align initiatives with sustainable development objectives.
Drawing on experiences from more than 150 urban-digital initiatives across more than 90 countries, the UNDP has identified several factors that contribute to the successful implementation of smart community systems. These include policy reforms, digital literacy, community participation, cybersecurity measures, and partnerships among governments, businesses, universities, and civil society organizations.
The organization recommends extensive consultation, iterative testing, and adaptation to local circumstances for the Philippines to fully enjoy the benefits of cities.
However, the UNDP argues that urban challenges differ significantly from one community to another. A solution that succeeds in one city may not produce the same results elsewhere. Therefore, local realities, cultural contexts, and development priorities must shape national decision-making in order to develop smart communities.
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